Mini-spray carnation plant named Staviolet

ABSTRACT

A new and original mini-spray carnation plant particularly distinguished by its bright flat cyclamen purple flowers having white centers and deeply serrated white margins, which are borne profusely and intermittently in clusters on erect stems branching from the main stem of an upright bush that has a height of about 110 cm.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/770,403,filed Oct. 3, 1991, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new mini-spray carnation plant originated as a sport of the varietyStatropur (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,849) being grown at our nursery inAalsmeer, Holland. This particular sport was discovered by me andattracted my attention because of its unusual flat cyclamen purple andwhite flowers and the apparent overall high quality of the plant growth.The new carnation is a sport of unknown causation. Staviolet differsfrom the parental cultivar in the color of its petals, its overall plantheight, and in its fruit fertility. Listed below in Table 1 is acomparison of Staviolet with Statropur and other known sports ofStatropur. The other sports provided in Table 1 are subjects ofcopending applications. Serial numbers for these applications areprovided for in the Table.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                       STAVIOLET    STATROPUR                                         ______________________________________                                        SERIAL NO.:    08/098,842   07/611,504                                        RELATED        08/098,842 is a                                                                            --                                                APPLICATIONS:  Continuation of                                                               07/770,403                                                                    (Abandoned)                                                    PATENT NO.:    --           U.S. Plant                                                                    Pat. No. 7,849                                    PETAL BODY:    RHS 74-A     RHS 74-B                                          PETAL BASE:    RHS 155-D    White                                             REVERSE SIDE:  RHS 155-D    White                                             STIGMA:        RHS 155-D    White                                             STYLE:         RHS 155-D    White                                             HEIGHT:        100-110 cm.  150 cm.                                                          (average)    (average)                                         DISCOLORATION  Slight       None                                              AFTER FULL                                                                    BLOOM:                                                                        FERTILE FRUIT: No           Yes                                               ______________________________________                                                       STAGILAC     STAGIBORD                                         ______________________________________                                        SERIAL NO.:    08/099,271   08/100,073                                        RELATED        08/099,271 is a                                                                            08/100,073 is a                                   APPLICATIONS:  Continuation of                                                                            Continuation of                                                  07/756,798   07/770,401                                                       (Abandoned)  (Abandoned)                                       PATENT NO.:    --           --                                                PETAL BODY:    RHS 74-B     RHS 57-B +                                                                    RHS 57-A                                                                      ("Mottled                                                                     Portion")                                         PETAL BASE:    RHS 155-D    RHS 155-D                                         REVERSE SIDE:  RHS 72-C     RHS 62-A                                          STIGMA:        RHS 155-D    RHS 64-B                                          STYLE:         RHS 155-D    RHS 64-B                                          HEIGHT:        100-110 cm.  100-120 cm.                                                      (average)    (average)                                         DISCOLORATION  Slight       Slight                                            AFTER FULL                                                                    BLOOM:                                                                        FERTILE FRUIT: No           No                                                ______________________________________                                                       STAGIROS                                                       ______________________________________                                        SERIAL NO.:    08/099,780                                                     RELATED        08/099,780 is a Continuation of                                APPLICATIONS:  07/770,402 (Abandoned)                                         PATENT NO.:    --                                                             PETAL BODY:    RHS 73-A + RHS 73-D                                                           ("Mottled Portion")                                            PETAL BASE:    RHS 155-D                                                      REVERSE SIDE:  RHS 73-D                                                       STIGMA:        RHS 155-D                                                      STYLE:         RHS 155-D                                                      HEIGHT:        100 cm. (average)                                              DISCOLORATION  Slight                                                         AFTER FULL                                                                    BLOOM:                                                                        FERTILE FRUIT: No                                                             ______________________________________                                    

Asexual propagation of this plant was done by means of cuttings under mydirection at Aalsmeer; and propagation of this new plant was continuedthrough successive generations to determine whether the nvelcharacteristics of the parent plant would be retained from generation togeneration and whether its momogeneity could be assured. This proved tobe successful and this new carnation is now being propagated atAalsmeer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new carnation cultivar is illustrated by the accompanying full-colorphotographic drawing, which shows blooming portions of spray stems withbuds and flowers in several stages of development, the color renditionbeing as nearly true to that herein specified as is reasonably possibleto obtain by professional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new mini-spray carnationvariety based upon observation of plants grown in greenhouse as well asoutdoors at Aalsmeer and blooming during the current year. The colordesignations stated herein are according to The R.S.H. Colour Chartpublished by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Sport.

Parentage:

Statropur.--U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,849.

Classification:

Botanic.--Dianthus Hybrid.

Commercial.--Mini-spray carnation.

Form: Strong, upright bush.

Height: About 100-110 cm. in average.

Main Stem:

Length.--In average, about 100 cm.

Growth habit.--Strong, upright and fast.

Branching Character.--The main stem has 7-8 side branches and each sidebranch has 2-4 branches and each of these branches has 1-2 branches.

Foliage:

Quantity: Medium.

Number of leaves.--22-26.

Leaf size.--Length: 7-11 cm. Width: 1-2 cm.

Leaf shape.--Elliptical. Margins: Straight and entire. Texture: Smooth.Color: Upper side -- R.H.S. 137-A. Under side -- R.H.S. 137-C.

THE BUD

Size: Medium.

Diameter.--Averaging about 3 mm.

Length.--Averaging about 20 mm.

Shape: Cylindrical, long and pointed.

Calyx:

Shape.--Cylindrical. The calyx is formed out of 5 pointed sepals ofabout 5 mm. which are joined at the lower point and sharply pointed atthe apex.

Size.--Averaging 3 mm in width and 20 mm in length.

Splitting.--The calyx does not split.

Aspect.--Smooth.

Color.--R.H.S. 137-D.

Flower Stem:

Character.--Erect.

Color.--137-C.

Length.--80 to 110 cm.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Intermittent and profuse, from Spring through Fall.

Size of flower: Small.

Diameter.--Averaging about 30 mm.

Depth.--Averaging about 5 mm.

Borne: In a cluster.

Shape when first opening: Flat.

When mature: Flat.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--5.

Arrangement.--Side by side around the pistil.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Velvety.

Apex margin.--Deeply serrated and white portions covering about onethird of the petal length.

Color.--Outer portion and inner portion of the petals: Body: R.H.S.74-A. In this "body" there are 50-100 scattered small spots which have acolor of R.H.S. 155-D. The deeply serrated margin also has a color ofR.H.S. 155-D. Base: R.H.S. 155-D. Reverse Side: R.H.S. 155-D.Discoloration after full bloom: Slight.

Persistence: The flowers hang on and dry.

Fragrance: Yes.

Disease resistance: Resistant to Fusarium oxysporum, as observed atAalsmeer.

Lasting quality: Averaging about 12 days as a cut flower and 21 days onthe plant.

Changes with maturity: The color of the bud and the color of the petalwhen they first begin to show is R.H.S. 74-A at the body and R.H.S.155-D at the base. When the flower matures, the color of the petal turnsto R.H.S. 74-B and when the flower is old, the color turns to R.H.S.74-C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: None.

Anthers: None.

Filaments: None.

Pistils:

Number.--1.

Styles.--Length: 22 mm, in average. Color: White.

Stigmas.--Color: White.

FRUIT

Fertility: The fruit is not fertile.

Shape: Pear-shaped.

I claim:
 1. The new and distinctive mini-spray carnation plant,substantially as herein shown and described, particularly characterizedby its small flat cyclamen-purple flowers having petals with a deeplyserrated white margins and wide white base and having flowers producedprofusely in clusters on strong, upright branches of the main stem of afast-growing, tall, erect bush.